WO2014067974A1

WO2014067974A1 - Electrical contact and plug connector having such an electrical contact

Info

Publication number: WO2014067974A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/072655
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich Buchmann; Peter Kraemer; Michael Hagemann; Matthias Haucke; Steffen Burger
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-10-29
Filing date: 2013-10-29
Publication date: 2014-05-08
Also published as: DE102012219741A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector having an electrical contact (20), and to such an electrical contact (20) having an electrically conductive housing cage (25) and a spring element (4) arranged in the housing cage (25), the spring element (45) being at least partially enclosed on the circumference by the housing cage (25) and being fastened to the housing cage (25) via a fastening means (130, 155, 135, 210, 215), the fastening means comprising a latching means (130, 155) and a receiving element (135), the receiving element (135) being formed for fastening the spring element (45) to the housing cage (25), and the latching element (130, 155) being designed for securing the receiving element (135) to prevent the spring element (45) from coming loose from the housing cage (25) on its own.

Description

Electrical contact and plug connector having such an electrical contact

The invention relates to a plug connector having a housing and an electrical contact, the electrical contact being received by the housing and comprising an electrically conductive housing cage and a spring element arranged in the housing cage, the spring element being at least partially enclosed on the circumference by the housing cage and being fastened to the housing cage.

Plug connectors having a housing and an electrical contact arranged in the housing are known. In this case the electrical contact comprises a housing cage and a spring element in order to press an electrical conductor against a contact area in the housing cage by means of the spring element. In order to fix the spring element on the housing cage, the spring element is fastened on the housing cage, for example, via an integral connection, in particular by means of a soldered or welded connection. This type of connection requires an additional manufacturing step in which thermal energy is introduced into the electrical contact. Furthermore, a cooling period is necessary to be able to insert the electrical contact into the housing, which usually is made of plastic.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved electrical contact and an improved plug connector that can be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner.

This object is achieved by means of an electrical contact according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, it has been found that an improved and easily producible electrical contact for a plug connector can be provided in that the electrical contact comprises an electrically conductive housing cage and a spring element that is arranged in the housing cage, the spring element being at least partially enclosed on the circumference by the housing cage and being fastened to the housing cage via a fastening means. The fastening means comprises a latching means and a receiving element (Laschenelement). The receiving element is formed for fastening the spring element on the housing cage, and the latching means is designed for securing the receiving element to prevent the spring element from coming loose from the housing cage on its own.

In this manner, a soldering method or another method for providing an integral connection between the spring element and the housing cage can be dispensed with, so that in the manufacturing of the electrical contact, cooling steps or cooling periods within the series production can be omitted. In this manner, the cycle times in the production of the electrical contact can be reduced. Furthermore, the electrical contact can be inserted into a housing of a plug connector directly after connecting the housing cage to the spring element. Moreover, due to the fact that introducing heat into the electrical contact is dispensed with, the manufacturing accuracy can be increased so that possible undesirable deformations during the heating and cooling process can be avoided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the spring element comprises a fastening portion, the receiving element being arranged on the housing cage and being designed for engaging behind the fastening portion. In this manner, the spring element can be reliably held on the housing cage.

Unintentional loosening of the spring element from the housing cage is prevented in that the latching means comprises a first recess arranged in the housing cage and a latch spring arranged on the spring element, the latch spring being designed for engaging in the first recess so as to block the spring element, in the direction toward the latch spring, to prevent it from coming loose from the receiving element.

In a further embodiment, the housing cage comprises two oppositely arranged first guide surfaces, the fastening portion comprising two guide surfaces arranged laterally on the fastening portion, a second guide surface of the fastening portion of the spring element resting in each case against the facing first guide surface of the housing cage. In this manner, lateral guiding of the spring element in the housing cage can be ensured.

In order to provide secure fastening of the spring element on the housing cage, the fastening portion of the spring element further comprises a shoulder portion arranged adjacent to the second guide surface, the housing cage having a second recess which is formed corresponding to the shoulder portion and into which the shoulder portion engages. An additional fastening point for the spring element is thereby provided on the housing cage.

It is particularly advantageous here if the first recess in the housing cage is arranged between the second recess and the receiving element.

For limiting an insertion movement of the spring element into the housing cage, the shoulder portion comprises a first stop surface facing the second guide surface, the second recess comprising a second stop surface arranged opposite the first stop surface, the first stop surface being designed for limiting an insertion movement of the spring contact into the housing cage by abutting against the second stop surface of the second recess.

In a further embodiment, the spring element has a third recess in the fastening portion that is arranged in a fixing portion of the fastening portion, which fixing portion faces the receiving element, and that is formed corresponding to the receiving element and is designed for at least partially receiving the receiving element. In this manner, additional lateral guidance for the spring element can be provided by the third recess.

The electrical contact can be produced in a particularly simple manner in that the housing cage is formed as one piece and from a single material and is producible by means of a punching- bending method, the housing cage comprising a lateral housing cage portion having a first housing cage subportion and a second housing cage subportion , the housing cage subportions resting against each other at a joint, and the first housing cage subportion being connected to the second housing cage subportion by means of a positive connection. The housing cage is thus prevented from bending open in the region of the joint.

In a further embodiment, the positive connection has at least one engagement element and a fourth recess formed corresponding to the engagement element, the engagement element engaging in the fourth recess in such a manner that the engagement element is arranged in a plane with the housing cage subportions. In this manner, protrusion of the engagement element from an outer peripheral surface of the housing cage can be reliably avoided, and therefore it can be avoided in the same reliable manner that the housing cage gets stuck when inserting it into a housing of a plug contact.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the housing cage, at a lateral surface opposite the first recess, comprises a stop element that is designed for limiting an insertion distance of the electrical conductor into the first contact area of the housing cage by abutting against the electrical conductor.

In a further embodiment, a clamping portion is provided on the housing cage, which clamping portion is designed for providing a further contact area for connecting to a further electrical conductor. In this manner, the electrical conductor can be connected to a further electrical conductor.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous for the spring element to comprise a material with high elastic bendability, in particular a stainless steel, in particular a spring steel, and for the housing cage to comprise copper, in particular a copper alloy, as a material.

However, the object is also achieved by a plug connector with the features according to claim 14. According to the invention, it has been found that a plug connector can be produced in a cost- effective manner if the plug connector comprises a housing and an electrical contact. The electrical contact is received by the housing. Here, the electrical contact is configured as described above. Due to the elimination of an integral connection between the spring element and the housing cage, a cooling step during the production of the plug connector can be dispensed with, so that the cycle times in the production of the plug connector can be reduced.

The invention is explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the figures. Identical components are designated by identical reference numbers. In the figures:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a partial portion through a plug connector with an electrical contact,

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 1,

Figures 3 and 4 show different perspective views of a housing cage shown in Figure 1,

Figure 5 shows in a perspective illustration a partial portion of the electrical contact shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a first illustrative perspective,

Figure 6 shows in a perspective illustration a partial portion through the electrical contact shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a second illustrative perspective,

Figure 7 shows a rear view of the housing cage shown in Figures 2 to 6,

Figure 8 shows a perspective illustration of a spring element,

Figures 9 and 10 show a detail of a perspective illustration of the electrical contact shown in Figure 2, Figures 1 1 and 12 show perspective illustrations of the housing cage shown in Figures 2 to 7 on a carrier strip during different manufacturing steps, and

Figures 13 and 14 show a perspective illustration of the spring element during different manufacturing steps.

In order to facilitate the explanation, reference is made hereinafter to the coordinate system shown in the respective figures. The coordinate system is a right-handed trihedron, the axial directions of which are by way of example. Of course, other coordinate systems with an orientation different than the one shown are also conceivable.

Figure 1 shows a partial section of a perspective view through a plug connector 5 with a housing 10 and a plurality of receptacles 15 arranged in two rows in the housing 10, in each of which an electrical contact 20 is arranged. The receptacles 15 each comprise an upper first contact opening 30 arranged in an upper region 24, and a second contact opening 40 arranged in a lower region 35 of the housing 10. The electrical contact 20 arranged in the receptacle 15 comprises a housing cage 25 and a spring element 45 fastened to the housing cage 25. The spring element 45 comprises a fastening portion 50 and a spring portion 55 connected to the fastening portion 50. The spring element 45 is arranged in the upper region 24 of the housing cage 25 or the housing 10. The fastening portion 50 of the spring element 45 is formed flatly and evenly and rests with its rear side against a first guide surface 65 on the inside of the housing cage 25. Opposite the fastening portion 50, inside the housing cage 25 on a side thereof opposite from the first guide surface 65, a first contact area 70 is provided at which a free end 75 of the spring portion 55 presses a first electrical conductor 80, for example a copper strand or a wire or a plug contact, against the first contact area 70.

Opposite the spring element 45, in the lower region 35 of the housing 10, a second contact area 85 is arranged at the housing cage 25, which second contact area is designed for clutching a second electrical conductor 90 that is fed through the second contact opening 40 and for connecting it to the housing cage 25 in an electrically conductive manner. The second electrical conductor 90 can be formed as a stripped strand, a wire or as a plug contact. The housing cage 25 itself comprises an electrically conductive material, in particular a copper material, particularly advantageously a copper alloy, so that the first electrical conductor 80 is electrically connected through the housing cage 25 to the second electrical conductor 90. With regard to a detailed illustration and description of the electrical contact 20, reference is made to the following Figures 2 to 14.

In order to easily feed the first electrical conductor 80 and the second electrical conductor 90 into the corresponding first and second contact areas 70, 85, respectively, the first contact opening 30 and the second contact opening 40 have in at least one subportion a conical configuration that is formed by a circumferential chamfer 95, 100 in the respective contact opening 30, 40.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the electrical contact 20 shown in Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 show different perspective views of the housing cage 25 shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 shows in a perspective illustration a partial section of the housing cage 25, shown in Figures 1 and 2, in a first illustrative perspective, and Figure 6 shows in a perspective illustration a partial section through the housing cage 25, shown in Figures 1 and 2, in a second illustrative perspective. Figure 7 shows a rear view of the housing cage 25 shown in Figures 2 to 6, and Figure 8 shows a perspective illustration of the spring element 45. Figures 9 and 10 show a detail of a perspective illustration of the electrical contact 20 shown in Figure 2. Figures 2 to 20 are explained together in the following discussion.

In order to reliably press the second electrical conductor 90 in place in the second contact area 85, the housing cage 25 comprises two oppositely arranged contact legs 105, 106 that are formed mirror-symmetrically with respect to one another and are arranged in one plane. To ensure reliable contacting of the second electrical conductor 90 upon insertion of the second electrical conductor 90, and thus, widening of a distance of the two contact legs 105, 106 from each other in the y direction, the contact legs 105, 106 have a spherically shaped portion 1 10, so that the second electrical conductor 90 is reliably compressed and contacted by the spherically shaped portions 110, regardless of the widening of the distance of the contact legs 105, 106 from each other.

To establish a defined spring tension of the contact legs 105, an opening 120 is provided in a foot portion 1 15 of the respective contact leg 105. With the aid of the opening 120, the spring stiffness of the contact leg 105, configured as a bar spring, can be varied by varying the diameter of the opening 120. The spring stiffness is reduced by increasing the diameter of the opening 120.

The first guide surface 65 is arranged on an inner surface of a lower housing cage portion 125 of the housing cage 25. Furthermore, in the lower housing cage portion 125, a first recess 130 is provided that is elongated in the z direction. At the first recess 130, a first receiving element 135 is arranged at an end facing toward the second contact area 85. The first recess 130 has a tapered portion 140 opposite the first receiving element 135.

The first receiving element 135 can be formed in a punching-bending process from the material that is initially located in the first recess 130 by punching and bending the punched-out first receiving element 135 into the interior 144. The first receiving element 135 comprises a connecting portion 145 that is arranged substantially transversely with respect to the first guide surface 65, and a holding portion 150 that is arranged substantially parallel to the first guide surface 65. The connecting portion 145 is fed laterally along the fastening portion 50 of the spring element 45, so that the holding portion 150 engages behind the fastening portion 50 and thus fastens the spring element 45 to the lower housing cage portion 125 of the housing cage 25. The holding portion 150 is arranged at a distance from the first guide surface 65 corresponding to a thickness of the fastening portion 50. Corresponding to the arrangement of the first recess 130, the fastening portion 50 of the spring element 45 comprises a latch spring 155 that is formed as a bar spring, a distance between a free end 160 of the latch spring 155 and the end of the fastening portion 50 of the spring element 45, which end faces the connecting portion 145, corresponding to an extent of the first recess 130 in the z direction. The end surface 165 of the recess 130, which end surface faces the latch spring 155, serves as a latching surface at which the free end 160 of the latch spring 155 in the latched state blocks a displacement of the spring element 45 in the negative z direction by an abutment of the free end 160 of the latch spring 155 against the end surface 165 that faces the latch spring. The fastening portion 55 is thus prevented from unintentionally coming loose from the receiving element 135. In order to facilitate inserting the spring element 45 into the housing cage 25, the latch spring 155 is formed in such a manner that the free end 160 of the latch spring 155 is formed protruding in the direction toward the spring portion, or downwardly in the negative z direction, i.e., in the direction toward the lower housing cage portion 125.

The housing cage 25 is substantially rectangular, and in addition to the lower housing cage portion 125 comprises an upper first housing cage portion 170 that is arranged opposite from the lower housing cage portion 125. The first contact area 70 is provided at the upper first housing cage portion 170, on the inside thereof. The first contact area 70 comprises a ribbing 171 to prevent the first electrical conductor 80 from slipping. Furthermore, at the upper first housing cage portion 170, a first stop element 175 for limiting an insertion depth of the first electrical conductor 80 is provided between the first contact area 70 and the second contact area 85, which stop element is bent substantially transversely into the interior 144 in the direction of the receiving element 135. The first stop element 175 comprises a first stop surface 180 that faces the free end 75 of the spring portion 55 of the spring element. The insertion depth of the first electrical conductor 80 is limited by the first electrical conductor abutting against the first stop surface 180 when the first electrical conductor 80 is inserted into the first contact area 70. To prevent the first electrical conductor 80 from coming out at the side, an elliptical pressing contour 181 is provided at the free end 75 of the spring portion 55, which pressing contour flatly rests against the first electric conductor 80, which in the embodiment is circular. A lateral housing cage portion 180, 185 is arranged on both sides between the upper first housing cage portion 170 and the lower housing cage portion 125. A first guide surface 190, 195 is arranged on the inside of the lateral housing cage portion 180, 185. The fastening portion 50 in each case laterally comprises a second guide surface 200, 205 that faces the corresponding opposite guide surface 190, 195, respectively. The guide surfaces 190, 195 200, 205 are arranged parallel to one another. The width in the x direction of the fastening portion 50 at the second guide surfaces 200, 205 is selected with respect to a distance from the first guide surfaces 190, 195 in such a manner that they form a clearance fit system so that the fastening portion 55 is guided during the insertion into the housing cage 25. The clearance fit system is selected in such a way that, despite a rounded contour 206, 207 between the lateral housing cage portions 180, 185 and the lower housing cage portion 125, in the assembled state the fastening portion 55 rests flatly against the first guide surface 130.

Furthermore, at the level of the free end 160 of the latch spring 55, a shoulder portion 210 is provided adjacent to the second guide surfaces 200, 205, which shoulder portion is wider in the x direction than the fastening portion 55 in the region of the second guide surfaces 200, 205. In the housing cage 25, the shoulder portion 210 is associated with a second recess 215 that is arranged between the lower housing portion 125 and the lateral housing portion 180, 185. The second recess 215 has the same longitudinal extent (in the z direction) as the shoulder portion 210.The shoulder portion 210 has a second stop surface 220 at a lateral surface facing the second guide surface 200, 205. Furthermore, the second recess 215 faces away from the second contact area 85 and is open in the same manner as the receiving element 135, and it comprises a third stop surface 225 which is arranged opposite from the second stop surface 220 and which is designed for limiting, during mounting, an insertion movement of the spring element 45 in the longitudinal direction (in the z direction) into the housing cage 25 by an abutment of the second stop surface 220 against the third stop surface 22. Furthermore, a movement or unhooking of the fastening portion 55 out of the receiving element 135, or of the latch spring 160 out of the first recess 130, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis or in the y direction, is blocked by the second recess 215 or the shoulder portion 210, and twisting of the spring element 24 in the housing cage 24 is therefore prevented.

Both the upper housing portion 170 and the lower housing portion 125 are extended with respect to the lateral housing portions 180, 185, at the side opposite from the first contact area 85, by a support portion 230 in the longitudinal direction opposite from the second contact area 85 to be able to support the fastening portion 55 on the first guide surface 125, and also to support the first electrical conductor 80 transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction (y direction) in the inserted state.

For fixing the spring element 45 in the region of the receiving element 135 in order to avoid twisting of the spring element 45 in the housing cage 25, a third recess 240 is provided at the fastening portion 50 of the spring element 45, which third recess has a trapezoidal shape and comprises a first chamfer 241 on each side. The connecting portion 145 of the receiving element 135 is arranged in such a manner that the connecting portion is spaced apart from a bottom 242 of the third recess 240 and is fed through the third recess 240 in the z direction. At lateral connecting portion surfaces 243 of the connecting portion 145, which are arranged laterally in the x direction, the connecting portion 145 rests against the first chamfer 241 of the third recess 240. Guiding the fastening portion in the x direction can be defined in this manner. In the y direction, the fastening portion 50 of the spring element 45 is secured by the holding portion 150 engaging behind the housing cage 25.

To facilitate inserting the spring element 45 into the housing cage 25, second chamfers 246 are provided on the guide surfaces 200, 205 in a fixing region 244 of the fastening portion 50.

For establishing the spring stiffness or the contact pressure of the first electrical conductor 80 at the first contact area 70, the spring portion 55 is connected to the fastening portion 50 via a first bend 245. Furthermore, a second bend 250 and a third bend 255 are provided in the spring portion 50, by means of which a spring characteristic of the spring portion 50 can be predefined and adapted to the corresponding first electrical conductor 80. To ensure reliable contact pressure of the first electrical conductor 80, the spring element 45 is resilient and made from a material with high elastic bendability, preferably a stainless steel, in particular a spring steel.

Alternatively, other materials can also be considered, wherein, for example, a plastic material in particular is also conceivable for forming the spring element 45.

In order to connect the second contact area 85, formed as one piece and made from a single material, to the lower or the left first housing cage portion 125, 180, respectively, a connecting region 265 is arranged between the second contact area 85 and a receiving region 260 for receiving the spring element 45, into which connecting region the lower housing cage portion 125 continues, and, in terms of its height (y direction), the first housing cage portion 180, arranged on the left side in Figures 2, 3, partially continues, the first lower contact leg 105 being arranged at the lower housing cage portion 125. Furthermore, opposite from the lower housing cage portion 125, a second upper housing cage portion 270 is provided which is connected to the first lateral housing portion 180, which is reduced in terms of its height. The upper second contact leg 106 is fastened to the second upper housing cage portion 270. In the present embodiment, in the connecting region 265 the height of the housing cage 25 in the connecting portion 265 (in the y direction in Figure 6) is lower than in the receiving region 260. The height is determined by the cross-section of the second electrical conductor 90 to be fastened in the second contact area 85.

In the embodiment, the two contact legs 105, 106 are arranged directly opposite from each other at the lower and upper second housing cage portions 125, 127, respectively. Of course, the contact legs 105, 106 can also be arranged offset with respect to one another in the direction toward the lateral housing cage portions 180, 185 (x direction). It is also conceivable that the contact legs have a different length (z direction), the different length also being achievable by fastening the contact legs 105, 106 to the lower housing portion 125 and the second upper housing portion 270, respectively, in an offset manner in the z direction. In order to adapt the second contact region 85 to different cross-sections of the second electrical conductor 90 to be received, the contact legs 105, 106 can be varied in terms of their contour. Also, the distance between the spherical portions 110 of the contact legs 105, 106 can be varied by adapting the distance of the second upper housing portion 270 from the lower housing portion 125 to the cross-section of the second electrical conductor 90.

To be able to produce the housing cage 25 as one piece and from a single material using a punching-bending method and, at the same time, to prevent the housing cage 25 from bending open when the electrical conductor 80, 90 is inserted, the second lateral housing cage portion 185, located on the right side in Figure 3, comprises a first lateral housing cage subportion 275 and a second housing cage subportion 280 arranged below the first housing cage subportion 275. The two housing cage subportions 275, 280 rest against each other in a joint 285.

For connecting the first housing cage subportion to the second housing cage subportion 280, a positive connection 290 is provided (cf. Figures 2 and 3) which comprises a mushroom-shaped fourth recess 295 and an engagement element 300 that is configured corresponding to the fourth recess 295. The engagement element 300 comprises a web 305 and a head 310, the head 310 being wider (in the z direction) than the web 305. The web 305 is designed for connecting the head 310 to the upper first housing cage subportion 275. Corresponding to the web 305, the fourth recess 295 has a web receiving portion 31 1 and a head receiving portion 312, the head receiving portion 312 being wider than the web receiving portion 31 1. In the embodiment, the head 310 is substantially circular. However, other embodiments such as polygonal, rectangular or elliptical embodiments are also conceivable. However, it is important here that the head 310 of the engagement element 300 blocks the engagement element to prevent it from slipping out of the fourth recess 295 in the y direction. The housing cage 25 may thus be reliably prevented from bending open at the second housing cage portion 185. In Figure 3, two engagement elements 300 and in each case two fourth recesses 295 are provided for the positive connection. Of course, the number of fourth recesses 295 or engagement elements 330 can be adapted to the configuration, in particular to the extent in the z direction, of the second lateral housing cage portion 185. Of course, other positive connections for connecting the two lateral housing subportions 275, 280 are also conceivable.

Figure 1 1 shows a perspective illustration of a plurality of housing cages 25 in different production steps. Figure 12 shows a perspective illustration of a detail, shown in Figure 11 , of the housing cage 25 after bending is complete. Figure 1 1 illustrates on the right side a housing cage 25 after bending is complete, wherein on the left side of the housing cage 25 after bending is complete, two additional housing cages 315 after a first production step are illustrated. Figures 13 and 14 show a perspective illustration of the spring element during different manufacturing steps.

The housing cages 315 (cf. Figure 11 , illustrated on the left side) are punched out from fiats in a first production step, and the spherical portion 1 10 of the contact legs 105, 106 is bent, and the housing cages are therefore still substantially flat after the first production step. In the process, only the spherical portion 110 protrudes at the contact leg 105, 106 from a plane 320 of the initial fiats, not illustrated. Due to the formation of the contact legs 105, 106 in the first production step, the contact legs can be easily adapted to the second electrical conductor 90 to be received by adapting the punching-bending tool. Furthermore, the housing cages 25, 315 are connected to a carrier strip 325 that has equidistantly spaced first pilot holes 330 which are used for further transport of the carrier strip 325 and of the housing cages 25, 315 arranged thereon. The carrier strip 325 and the first pilot holes 330 are likewise produced in the first production step, using the punching process.

After folding the housing cage 315 in a second production step (cf. Figure 11 , illustrated on the right side, and Figure 12), the housing cage 315 is formed in the same way as the housing cage 25 illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, or in the same way as the housing cage 25 marked by dashed lines on the right side in Figure 12, and is already completely shaped as shown in Figures 1 to 9. The housing cage 25 is still connected to the carrier strip 325 even after the second production step to allow easy transport of the housing cage 25 in the production facilities. In a third production step (cf. Figure 13), the spring element 45 is punched out of flats, the spring element 45 being shaped in a punched strip 331 having second pilot holes 332. In a fourth production step (cf. Figure 14), the spring element 45 is bent into the shape shown in Figures 1 to 10, it still being formed in one piece in the punched strip 331.

In a fifth production step, the individual spring elements 45 of the punched strip 331 are separated along first separating lines 332 in order to insert them into the housing cage 25 immediately thereafter. The first separating line 332 is arranged approximately centrally between two shoulder portions 210 of two spring elements 45. To facilitate transporting the electrical contact 20, the housing cage 25 is still connected to the carrier strip 325.

Prior to inserting the housing cage 25 into the housing 10 of the plug connector 5, the housing cage 25 is separated along two oppositely situated second separating lines 335 extending in parallel and arranged laterally on the support portion 230 (cf. Figure 11). On the end face of the support portion 230 of the lower housing cage portion 125, the carrier strip 325 has a fifth recess 340 that extends over the entire width (x direction) of the support portion 230, so that the separating lines intersect with the fifth recess 340when the carrier strip 325 is separated along the separating lines 335. Separating the housing cage 25 from the carrier strip 325 is easily achieved in this way. After the carrier strip 325 is separated, the housing cage 25 is inserted into the housing 10 shown in Figure 1.

The electrical contact 20 shown in Figures 1 to 14 can be inserted into the housing 10 without geometrically changing the previously known housing 10 of the plug connector 5, so that a previously soldered electrical contact can be easily replaced with the electrical contact 20 shown in Figures 1 to 14. In this manner, existing injection molds can still be used for the housing 10.

The plug connector 5 shown in Figures 1 to 13 or the shown electrical contact 20 represents one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Of course, other embodiments are also conceivable. Thus, it is conceivable, e.g., that the receiving element 135 is arranged in the fastening portion 50 of the spring element 45 and engages behind the lower housing cage portion 125 in the region of the first recess 130. Of course, it is also conceivable that the first recess 130 is provided in the fastening portion 50, and the latch spring 155 is provided at the lower housing cage portion 125. It is also conceivable, of course, that the second contact area 85 is arranged at the upper first housing subportion 170 and/or at the second lateral housing subportion 185. Also, the geometrical configuration of the second contact area 85 having the contact legs 105, 106 can be varied depending on the second electrical conductors 90 to be fastened. It is also conceivable that insulation displacement terminals are provided in the second contact area 85 so as to cut through an insulation of the second electrical conductor 90 and to be able to advance directly to the current-conducting part of the electrical conductor 90.

Claims

1. An electrical contact (20) for a plug connector (5), having an electrically conductive housing cage (25) and a spring element (45) arranged in the housing cage (25), the spring element (45) being at least partially enclosed on the circumference by the housing cage (25) and fastened to the housing cage (25) via a fastening means (130, 155, 135, 210, 215), characterized in that the fastening element comprises a latching means (130, 155) and a receiving element (135),

the receiving element being formed for fastening the spring element (45) on the housing cage (25), and the latching means (130, 155) being designed for securing the receiving element (135) to prevent the spring element (45) from coming loose from the housing cage (25) on its own.

2. The electrical contact (20) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the spring element (45) comprises a fastening portion (50), the receiving element (135) being arranged on the housing cage (25) and being designed for engaging behind the fastening portion (50).

3. The electrical contact (20) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the

latching means (130, 155) comprises a first recess (130) that is arranged in the housing cage (25) and a latch spring (155) that is arranged on the spring element (45), the latch spring (155) being designed for engaging in the first recess (130) and for blocking the spring element, in the direction toward the latch spring (155), to prevent it from coming loose from the receiving element (135).

4. The electrical contact (20) according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the housing cage (25) comprises two first guide surfaces (190, 195) arranged opposite from each other, the fastening portion (50) comprising two second guide surfaces (200, 205) arranged laterally on the fastening portion (50), a second guide surface (200, 205) of the fastening portion (50) of the spring element (45) resting in each case against the facing first guide surface (190, 195) of the housing cage (25).

5. The electrical contact (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening

portion (50) of the spring element (45) comprises a shoulder portion (210) arranged adjacent to the second guide surface (200, 205), the housing cage (25) having a second recess (215) which is formed corresponding to the shoulder portion (210) and in which the shoulder portion (210) engages.

6. The electrical contact (20) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first recess (130) in the housing cage (25) is arranged between the second recess (215) and the receiving element (135).

7. The electrical contact (20) according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the shoulder portion (210) comprises a first stop surface (220) that faces the second guide surface (200, 205), the second recess (215) comprising a second stop surface (225) arranged opposite from the first stop surface (220), the first stop surface (220) being designed for limiting an insertion movement of the spring contact (45) into the housing cage (25) by an abutment against the second stop surface (225) of the second recess (215).

8. The electrical contact (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the spring element (45) in the fastening portion (50) has a third recess (240) which is arranged in a fixing portion (244) of the fastening portion (50), the fixing portion facing the receiving element (135), and which is formed corresponding to the receiving element (135) and is designed for at least partially receiving the receiving element (135).

9. The electrical contact (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing cage (25) is formed as one piece and from a single material, and is producible by means of a punching-bending method, the housing cage (25) comprising a lateral housing cage portion (180, 185) having a first housing cage subportion (275) and a second housing cage subportion (280), the housing cage subportion s (275, 280) resting against each other at a joint (285), and the first housing cage subportion (275) being connected to the second housing cage subportion (280) by means of a positive connection (290).

10. The electrical contact (20) according to claim 9, characterized in that the positive

connection (290) has at least one engagement element (300) and a fourth recess (295) formed corresponding to the engagement element (300), the engagement element (300) engaging in the fourth recess (295) in such a manner that the engagement element (300) is arranged in a plane with the housing cage subportions (275, 280).

1 1. The electrical contact (20) according to any one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the housing cage (25) comprises a stop element (175) at a lateral surface opposite from the first recess (130), the stop element being designed for limiting an insertion distance of the electrical conductor in the first contact area (70) of the housing cage (25) by abutting against the electrical conductor.

12. The electrical contact (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , characterized in that on the housing cage (25) a connecting portion (265) is provided on which a second contact area (85) is arranged for connecting to a further electrical conductor (90).

13. The electrical contact (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the spring element (45) comprises a material with high elastic bendability, preferably a stainless steel, in particular a spring steel, and the housing cage (25) comprises copper, in particular a copper alloy, as a material.

14. A plug connector (5) having a housing (10) and an electrical contact (20), the electrical contact (20) being received by the housing (10), characterized in that the electrical contact (20) is formed according to any one of claims 1 to 13.